The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-23
CARTHAGE, MISS, March 18th. 1887.

CARTHAGE, MISS, March 10Th, 1887.
EDITOR CLARION The 30, yez o, yez p
OF Sheriff Lacey, sdjourning Judge Mayors
court, has hardly died away as | write.
The term just passed was conspicuous for
its lack oil buslness-consuming hardly
week-and the presence of a huge numbe
of candidates. Little candidat and biz
they poured into town 10 spite
of the drenching rain and interviewed the
soverelgns from these piney woods The
aspirants for Major Huddleston's place OF
District Attorney were here, the would be
successors of Senator Guyton, those whose
ambition Is the Sheriffalty, and all the
smaller county offices, exercising the chief
preyogative OF Uncle Sans offspring-ruu-
ming Tor office. This Is prohibition
county and as somebody brought jug to
town-and Judge Mayors has stopped the
local illicit rade-among the disciples of
Murphy, suspicion rests with these who
would immediate themselves for their coun-
try's good.
Leake is just out of the most stirring cleo
tions tor many day. That was the question
of voting $o9,UO0 subscription to the Gulf
and Ship Island Railroad but she voted
1t and will get there all the same" In
December an election was frat asked for
by the company. The foresighted BIZ. mess
men felt supreme moment had come for
our county TO get ''out of the woods.n The
people were more OF less uniformed. but
generally opposed to rich corporations. y
some proclaimed in advance their inten-
ton OF stumplng the county against the
proposition; others stood Indifferent
Speakers IN favor Of the enterp Use laid
open Its advantages at every precinct. and
now and then the "Anti's" would set 10
man TO tell their side of the story. The
arguments OF the latter we're varied and
sometimes amusing. One said we we're
squahuerlhg cur substance on an stfiuent
ana powerful company another that we
are DETER On IMAM people that have rail-
ROADS one individual advanced the idea
that we would be destroyed by contagious
diseases and hard she'll preacher ex-
pianed MS opposition on the ground that
MS church never prospered near railroads
ergo, Inc CO inty ought not to have any
out an aggressive campaign went courage
ousiy on; The war was even carried into
Africa On the 18th of anuary, when the
vote was counted, it was found that 1896
We're "for" and 73s against" The
'Anti's were astonished at their weakness
and the railroad men resolved ito pick
their flint and come again." The Prcsi.
dent asked for new election. February
9Th was set, but it was soon discovered
that the raliroaders, in their hot haste had
not called the supervisors together legally.
They were soon >re-assembled, however,
anu an entirely new proposition was SUBJ
mltted. As last modified it stood thus !:
coupon bonds were to be issued bearing
interest al the rate of six per cent. per
annum, and placed in the hands of the
county Treasurer as trustee, but the
coupons representing all the interest ma
turing before the completion of the road
through the county, were to be torn off and
destroyed. In addition to this, stock in
the road to the amount OF the annual in
terest was to be issued to the county each
year. Capt. Hardy, President, unfolded
the plans of the Company at several voting
places. Not much noise was made, but
stubborn determination was manifested to
vote stood 1878 "for' to 627 against" 4i9
more votes than the necessary two-thirds.
Thus the citizens of this county have
resolved to cease building up the towns of
adjoining counties with their trade and
business, and to reverse the old order of
things.
This road, the preliminary line of which
is already surveyed, strikes the county on
the southern border, passes Carthage, the
county site, then up Lobutcha to the north
srn limit. Capt. Hardy, in his recent
canvass, stated it as his opinion that Leake
is the best upland county he has seen in
he State. A glance at the map will dis
close the fact that it has more large run
ming streams than any other county In
Some of these streams have
inc water power, and others are famous
or their rich reed-brake lands, while the
banks of all groan under some of the finest
imber of this or any other country. 1t is
veil understood, too, that there is iron in
he clay hills of these parts, maybe in rich
paying quantities. Already the land
,wners are turning over the ferruginous
andstone rocks to uncover the richer
metal.
1t is, perhaps, fact that Leake comes |
Is near being seIf-sustaining as any part |
4 this State. The farmers are small, but |
generally thrifty, They raise their own |
,orn, as the lat mules tied to the fences |
my day in Carthage will testify. She 10 |
airly good stock county now, and with |
,etter blood in the veins of her cattle and /
logs, would be hard to beat A consider
lb1e part OF her population are i'm migrants
rom the States of Alabama and Georgia,
md of her $4,000 inhabitants about one
bird are negroes.
Carthage. the capitol OF Leake, is a
uperior inland town of about 500 souls,
nd has an excellent site and nucleus Of
citizenship about which will
e gathered in railroad times more pre-
entious surroundings. We already have
very respectable class of husinsss and
Professional men. One OF the best evil
ences of the intelligence of its people is
be excellent High School in our midst
hich has q standing second to none Not
My The people of the town, but the best
itizens OF the county, and some from sur
,unding counties, patronize this excellent
Fhe sIiepcss and Languages
nd music are taught 10 their excellence.
lore anon. T. Q. r.